"Why Grocery Stores Are Avoiding Black Neighborhoods"

[Ridgerunner]

I don’t blame them. Liver is good stuff. It just amazes me that most chicken livers, at least, do go into pet food, and they sure do.

Possibly to return to topic, I don’t recall seeing liver in a black neighborhood supermarket. Lots of other secondary products, but I don’t recall seeing liver.

 

[blackforest]

I get how insurance companies work. But where these food deserts are showing up in so many low-crime areas, I strongly doubt that the crime rate is a factor . . . or the insurance companies refusing coverage. There must be other dynamics at play.

 

[Tommy999]

Most businesses that I am aware of follow the money and set up shop wherever demographics indicates they can make the most money. They are colorblind in that respect.

Fairness and justice are secondary to pure capitalists. Profit (“Show me the money”) is #1 to them. That is why, in my opinion, it takes businesses with a special altruistic mission to reach out to areas like food deserts, such as non-profit organizations.

 

[blackforest]

Did you study the map I posted? I think a lot of assumptions are getting made - i.e. that these food deserts are in poor and high-crime areas needing “altruism.” I think it’s true in some cases, but not always. Sometimes it’s just being in a rural area, but again, not always. We’re jumping to a lot of conclusions - even the news bit in the OP is, to be fair. I just think there’s more to the story.

 

[Tommy999]

Yes I did, especially for the area where I live.

I am familiar with my area, and the parts that are seen as food deserts are either low-income sections where there is a significant minority population (African American, mostly) where previous grocery store chains had to leave due to rampant theft (or so they say) or rural areas where the population is very sparse.

There are lots of entrepreneurs in my area who are constantly analyzing demographics and leaving from or moving to areas where they can make money.

For example, we used to have some new car dealerships in my area when we moved there 25+ years ago that moved on to other areas as new wealthier neighborhoods sprang up elsewhere and mine started declining.

They obviously think these food desert areas are not a good investment.

Sorry if it’s not the answer you want to hear, but it’s the truth as I understand it for my area. I can’t speak with authority about areas where I don’t have experience or knowledge.

If there is more to the story as you suggest, please feel free to share it.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

For them it has to do with the demographics.

The only market in my small town shut down. The reason was that people were going across the state line to the larger supermarket which was cheaper, but also no sales tax.

The problem became for the people who don’t drive and depended on the in-town market. The result was that the charity and senior center offer rides to that supermarket.
Of course the state grumbled that the service was bringing people out of state to shop, but the other market was further and of course, had a sales tax.

 

[blackforest]

If there is more to the story as you suggest, please feel free to share it.

I don’t know what that “more” is. I know that based on the data, none of us are in any position to make some of the sweeping generalization about food deserts that I’ve seen in this thread. It’s just a topic worth reading up more on, because I’m curious what else there is to this phenomenon.

 

[Peeps]

How does it get solved? Economic prosperity for all – as people get more educated / higher socio-economic class, their taste and health improves.

Oh, I don’t about that.

I know a lot of people who are very well-heeled…and very fat and unhealthy due to overindulgence, lack of physical activity, and other bad habits. This is true especially of wealthy men.

Take a look at Pres. Trump (and back in the day, Pres. Clinton, who was quite wealthy). Lots of moola, but overweight and out-of-shape. Being wealthy and in high society gives you the opportunity to eat lots and lots of yummy food. Yes, you might be the subject of gossip by groups like the Junior League–but if you’re rich enough, no one will be too loud about criticizing you!

I also know wealthy people who are not healthy because they eat too sparingly and over-exercise (they have the time to do it).

Being rich does not necessarily mean being healthy.

 

[27lw]

Wealth secures health

 

[farronwolf]

Being rich does not necessarily mean being healthy.

But having means, means you have access to healthcare and possibly better healthcare than others without such means have access to.

One key to longevity is early diagnosis, and preventative care.